Fire-escape



(No Model.)

D. A. FRASER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented July 8 WMZ "'2 may UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

D UN CAN A. FRASER, OF CHELSEA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN R. MOLELLAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,572, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed April 23, 1890. Serial No. 349,132. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUNCAN A. FRASER,

of Chelsea, in the count-y of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved fire-escape represented in use; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation showing the ladder folded, and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to collapsible ladders adapted for use as fire-escapes; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to producea simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use,

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the ladder considered as a Whole, B the building, and

C the window-sill thereof. The ladder is formed in sections, each section consistingof two parallel side pieces I), the respective ends of which are connected by rungs (Z. The side pieces of alternateladder-sections are curved or bent inward at f, and said side pieces are pivoted on the rung d between the side pieces I) of the adjacent ladder sections, as best shown in Fig. 2. This enables the laddersections to be folded together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The curved side pieces f fold in between the side pieces I) on the adjacent sections, and their curved or offset portions pass around the rungs of said adjacent sections sufliciently to enable the side pieces I) to come in contact, thus permitting the ladder when not in use to be folded ill- L comparatively small or compact form.

Between the sides I) f, respectively, a tube g is disposedon the rungs (I, said tubes pre venting lateral movement of the side pieces on said rung.

The upper ladder-section consists of two side pieces 2', bent or curved on the arc of a circle and provided on their outer or free ends with a hook 71, adapted to take on the inner edge of the window-sill C When in use. The hook ends of the side pieces 2' are provided with an eye in, in whieh one end of a chain p is secured, the opposite end of said chain being provided with a hook q, adapted to take in an eye or staple r, secured in the flooring t of a room within the building.

I11 the use of my improvement the ladder A in its normal condition is folded, as shown in Fig. 3, and disposed in a convenient position Within the room. The ladder may then be readily disposed with its hook-section ion the window-sill, as shown in Fig. 1, the chain p being secured in the staple r. The body of the ladder is then permitted to fall from out the window, the curved section f thereof engaging the face of the wallo and holding the rungs of said ladder a sufficient distance from said Wall to afford room for the feet and hands of the user. The chain 1) prevents the side bars ifroin becoming accidentally detached from the window-sill when in use.

By forming the ladder of metal, as described, it is rendered much more durable and less liable to injury from fire than ladders of ordinary construction.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is 1. In a folding fire-escape ladder, a body formed in sections, the side bars of alternate sections being curved or offset and pivoted to the rungs of the adjacent sections between their side bars, hooks pivoted to one of said sections for securing the ladder to a windowsill, and a chain secured to said ladder-hooks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The ladder A, formed in sections comprising the straight side bars Z and curved or offset side bars f, pivoted on rungs d, the

curved-hooks 2', and the chain 19, provided with a hook q, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The fire-escape A, formed 'in pivoted 5 sections, alternate sections thereof having curved side bars, as f, pivoted on rungs d of the adjacent sections, the tubes g, disposed on the rungs between said curved side bars,

and the curved hooks for adjustably securing the ladder to a window-sill, all being com- IO bined and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

DUNCAN A. FRASER. Witnesses:

O. M. SHAW, K. DURFEE. 

